Revival, Deceit & Change: A What If Story

by Blade Redwind

What if on that fated night when Sasuke left the village instead of knocking out Sakura he chose to take her up on her offer to join him in his path bent on revenge? A story eventually set more than 12 years after Sasuke joins with Orochimaru.

27. Chapter Twenty Six

..Chapter Twenty-Six..

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The war had been going on for weeks. Weeks and weeks of endless bloodshed, torment and waste. Naruto was not pleased. He was not pleased at all. He felt like all the hard work, all the years of painstaking secrecy and leaking information somehow meant nothing now. What good would have been hiding Kei and working with his friends if they were to lose here? What did it all amount to?

Hundreds were dying on both sides. He'd heard word from other parts of the battlefield that some of the Kages were seriously considering retreat. Did they not understand there was no retreat? If they retreated they faced the hard reality that the Akatsuki would win. They would win and they would ruin the shinobi world as a whole.

When he'd been a child he'd been hated and looked upon will ill seeing eyes. As a young adult he'd worked hard to become a great ninja and truly show people that his ideas, his way of the ninja, was the right one. He believed that senseless fighting against one another was wrong. But fighting for the right cause was the only reason one should fight. When he became Hokage he made sure these new ideals were instilled in the children at the academy. Kei was a prime example.

He worked his whole life to earn the respect of his peers and he'd achieved it. He'd wanted to make a united shinobi world free from hate and deception. While it was true you would never rid the world of all evil he wanted to combat it; to push it back so a new generation had a chance to thrive.

And right now he feared his dream was dying.

Naruto had always had numerous doubts in his childhood and in his adulthood. All these doubts he'd always somehow over come. Always. And now he wasn't sure he could over come it this time. His people were dying. His allies' people were dying. He'd almost lost Gaara yesterday. It had been a rough scare and now?

Now it was worse.

Somehow through all the bleak fighting he'd managed to get several Jounin to send messages to all the Kages. The message had trickled down. They'd heeded his call and met him in the valley. It was bleak and ridden with rocks. Everything was hard and black. The skies looked ready to pour. Lightning cracked across the skies and illuminated, for a brief moment, the faces of his enemies. The enemies of the world.

There were only four of them left. He knew them all by name. Hidan, Pain, Konan and of course... Madara. He grit his teeth together as the rain started to fall another crest of lightning scattered across the open skies.

Madara.

The bastard who'd started all this in what seemed like ages ago. The same man who Itachi had to convince to leave Leaf alone if he helped him kill everyone in the Uchiha compound. The same man who was a large reason why his daughter was sitting at home fearing for her parent's lives.

Naruto wasn't in his best condition; but, neither were the four in front of him and all the people behind him. Blood stained their clothes from hours upon hours of fighting. Naruto's Kage robe was ripped and tattered. The blue color looking more a drab black because of the blood staining the cloth. It rippled in the wind.

No one was saying anything. No one was doing anything. Were they waiting for one of his men to attack again? For him to? Why had they all suddenly stopped? They couldn't possibly be taking a break. It was stupid. This whole thing was stupid and he wanted nothing more than for it to be over.

"You're hesitating, brat. Just kill them..." The voice of the Kyuubi within him breathed.

"It's not that easy."

"It's always that easy. Quit doubting yourself. You're better than this."

"You have an awful lot of faith in me all of sudden."

The beast snorted from within. "I thought we were long past that, vessel."

"I know..."

"This isn't like you. Where's that determined boy I recall from so long ago? The one who went about shouting to the world he'd be the greatest ninja ever? The one who'd defeated countless enemies without so much as a finger lifted from myself?" He sounded irritated. "You're better than this, child. I made a deal with you long ago once I recognized your strength. Are you going to let that go to waste by insulting my faith in you with such... doubts?"

"No!"

"Then do someth--" The beats stopped speaking suddenly.

"What?"

Silence.

"Damnit don't clam up on me now. Not when I need you for once."

"I'm not... I'm just..."

"WHAT?!"

"Can you feel Gaara?"

"Yeah, why?"

"Can you feel his One Tail demon chakra?"

"Of course I can, idiot. What kind of question is that? Our chakra is almost too loud for other beast containers not to sense others like them."

"Exactly..."

"What is your point?" He was irritated.

"Can you not feel them?"

"Who...?"

"Stupid child." He admonished. "Reach out and feel for them. Must I tell you everything?"

And so he did. Even standing there in the rain all but staring at his enemies square in the eyes... he reached out. He felt something... seven... somethings. Inside he was... unsure. What did it mean?

"It means they're alive, you idiot. It means my... kind," he said word with such disgust, "are coming."

"They're alive..." He tried to right his mind. "It doesn't mean their coming here. They might just be passing by. Hell, they might be here to fight us."

"True..."

"Bah! You're not help at all."

He snorted. "I will be when you need me, brat. Just remember that."

"I know.."

"Good. I'm not ready to die here. Not yet." And then he was silent.

"You're an insufferable and stubborn bunch," Madara was finally saying. "I have to admit... your plans had merit. Not even I knew this was coming." He chuckled cruelly. "Hell, you even convinced that sadist Kisame to join your little group effort. And the other Kages.. I'm impressed."

Naruto's eyes narrowed. "You won't win here, Madara."

"Oh?" His eyebrow arched. "You sound so confident. Then again, I've been told you always have been." He smirked. "You and that idiotic idea of the ninja are going to die right here. I don't see how you could think such a pitiful ideal could actually work. Uniting shinobi world in peace? Impossible. Shinobi are tools meant for battle. Not for peace. The only way to control your tools is with fear."

"You're wrong!" Naruto cried. "People are not tools. People have lives, hopes and dreams that deserve the chance to flourish in a world free from war!" He panted slightly, the toll of the day finally setting in. "I plan to see this ideal continue. In my village and maybe one day in the villages of others."

"Hn..." he replied. "That is why you will fail. You have no rage, no hatred instilled in you. You have no understanding how life, the life of the ninja really operates, Hokage."

Cool blues just eyed the man across the short expanse between him and the remaining members of his dreadful team. Behind the four were others still. Tools who truly had no idea what was at stake here. They were people who'd willing given themselves to Madara's evil plot.

How much chakra did the man truly have left? Naruto's was on the low side already from battling him hours on end before. He still had the Kyuubi... but he was hesitating. He did not want to rely on that power unless he had to. He knew the demon fox would not mind... but, it was still a choice he was trying not to make.

"How much chakra do you really have left, Madara? Hm? I bet not even enough to use your eyes. It's probably why you're just standing there... pitifully trying to come up with a way to defeat me."

For a moment the man actually looked upset. "I've got enough to kill you, Jinchuuriki and take your beast."

"Over my dead body!" The Kyuubi shouted.

"Shut up!"

He grunted.

"Heh.." Naruto smirked as he reached down and pulled out a kunai. "Then lets go at it, eh? Just you and me, bastard. Steel for steel."

"Hn.." He sneered. "If you insist." He glanced behind him at the other members, heat in his eyes. "Do not interfere." It was a cold order.

Naruto came at him then. No one intervened. No one jumped to help. The clash of blades and shirikin was heard as all watched on with avid interest.

Gaara narrowed his eyes as he watched the fight play out. He would keep and eye on the Akatsuki. There was no telling when any one of them might jump in undetected. Regardless of the agreement between the Hokage and Madara he doubted very much they would ildy stand by and watch.

"You're worried..." Shukaku rumbled from within him.

"Of course I am..." he replied. "Naruto could die... we all could if anything goes wrong. Madara is not a man to toy with easily."

"Hn... I want to do something. Let me."

He sighed. "No. Not yet."

"Yet?" He sounded interested. "You're thinking about it?" His voice seemed to grin with manacle thoughts. "It's been a while since I had some fun, Gaara..."

"Yeah... I'm lucky I can keep some decent amount of control over you, bloody beast."

He snorted. "Just because I like working with you, Gaara doesn't mean you control me."

"What gave you that crazy idea? We have an agreement. I let you out now and then and you do what I say."

"Yeah yeah... you think the Kyuubi boy will hold his own?"

"Naruto will do just fine."

"Then why do you sound so unsure?"

"That's obvious. He's my friend and I'm worried about him."

"Hm..." the beast paused a moment.

"What?"

"Do you feel it?"

"What?"

"Someone is coming... those I have not felt in ages... not since being forced into this vessel known as your body..." He seemed to be inhaling. All Gaara could hear was sniffing. "Yes.. I'm not sure though..."

Gaara reached out... trying to feel himself. Seven... seven others with an aura like his own... not exact... but there all the same. "Jinchuuriki?"

"Yes, I'm sure of it now."

"Why would they becoming here? Shouldn't they be hiding?"

"I have no idea..."

Gaara grunted. "I'll call you when I need you."

"Yeah, yeah... "

Steel clashed against steel as they moved. Their movements were near unreadable unless you could pick out that speed. Sparks flew when they met for a few sparse seconds. Again and again the earth shifted with them; moved as they stepped, flew up and about their forms as they moved. The heat of the moment was almost too much for some of the men; the greatness of the deadly intent of the men before them bearing down on the crowd.

A few kunai dug themselves into the earth as they ran along the circle of people around them; each one trying to hit the other. The rain blew in one direction or the other as it fell whenever they changed directions or tried to make a hit on the other with a fist, a foot or an elbow.

Naruto was reaching for him, fist striking out as he made an attempt to collide with his face. Again he disappeared and again Naruto avoided another of his attacks. How much longer before one of them did some damage to the other? How much longer could he hold out against this monster?

He turned, his thoughts making him hesitate. Before he knew what was happening something was slicing through his gut and forcing him away; away and hard against the gravel until he found his back colliding with someone. They'd managed to grab him and catch his form before he went any further. He coughed, his eyes moving to shut and he reached down and held his stomach.

His eyes barely opened and he looked down. Blood covered his waist area and soaked through his torn Jounin uniform. Such pain ran through him at the sight of his wounded belly. The gash was deep...

"Don't move," he heard Gaara's voice muttering in his ear.

Naruto gazed up, expecting to see Madara Uchiha bearing down on him, Instead, three people stood there. Hinata, Sasuke and Itachi. He wanted to tell them to stop, but, knew his body was waning on him. It took all his strength to keep awake. He slowly watched as more people came to stand in front of him and by the side of his comrades. Kakashi... Rin... Jiraiya-sama, all of rookie nine, Tenten, Lee.. and Neji. And still more were coming.

He coughed again. Sakura was quickly by his side.

"Don't move," she whispered. "I'll try to stop the bleeding." Her voice shook.

He nodded and felt her soft hands moving to rip apart his shirt. He felt Gaara's hands helping to remove his clothing. He cried out, only protesting when true pain shot through him.

Madara looked at the front of people keeping him from the demon fox vessel. "Stand down."

"Tch..." Sasuke muttered with narrowed depths. "If you want Naruto, you're going to have to go through us, trash."

"Pitiful fools," He muttered as he head more voices in the crowd before him shouting they too would not move.

"Madara-sama..."

He turned as Pain called out to him, but only slightly.

His eyes narrowed on his leader. "We are badly wounded and no better off than those we face. Perhaps retreat is the best action this time."

"I concur," Konan added.

"Blasphemy," Hidan all but growled. "We fight until there is no one left. That is how it should be."

"Heh..." Madara replied. "I'm not done with them yet." Before his team mates could reply or argue he was turning. "I'm not leaving here without the fox." And then he was charging at the rallied line of ninja all ready and prepared to die to protect the Hokage; their friend. The distance was starting to clear and he was close... very close.

Slice! Stab!

He stopped instantly as two kunai were thrown down in front of his direct path. And then a great cloud of smoke was exploding. He arched a brow and his lips drew a flat line as he prepared himself for whatever was to come next...

"The hero of a story always comes just in time to save the day!"

The hell? He watched the smoke slowly begin to clear. Then his brows began to arch further as nothing but a mere girl no more that thirteen or twelve showed herself. She was in an odd pose meant to represent her heroism.

Who the fuck was this punk?

A smirk laced her lips and she pointed at him with her other hand on her hip. Her head cocked to the side as she stared at him. At least he thought she was. He couldn't see her eyes with those damning shades on.

"My name is Hyuuga Kei, trash! And I'm here to make sure your ass gets kicked." Her smirk turned into a wide grin. "Remember my name and known that the daughter of the Hokage will have been the one to sign your death contract!"

He just stared at her for a while. Was she serious? He cracked a smirk and began to chuckle softly, cruelly. What a silly child. And here he'd been worried for a moment he was in some kind of danger. "Stupid, child. How could you possibly defeat me? I've lived ages longer than you and killed more people than you're ever met in your young short life."

Meanwhile Naruto was crying out in surprise. "Kei! What the hell is she doing here? Move you fools!" He watched as the sea of people before him parted.

"Oh god..." Sakura whispered. She looked up and over at Sasuke as she called to him. "Sasuke!"

His eyes flashed to hers a moment, promising he'd do something about this.

"What is she doing here?" Itachi muttered next to his brother.

"I don't know but we need to get her out of there before he tries something." His eyes were narrowed and his face was stern. Inside he was a mess of fear.

Kei was laughing back at him as she placed both hands on her hips. "Who said I was going to defeat you? Hm?"

He watched with some interest as the girl before him put two fingers to her lips and whistled loudly. What was she doing? Feh... he didn't care. He'd be done with her now. He began to charge at her. She wasn't moving. No, instead she just stared him down with the confidence of a seasoned ninja. What did she hope to accomplish?

And then he was stopping again as something blue flashed in front of him and large chakra reading flared through his senses. He barely had time to avoid the blast of fire coming his way. When he came back to his senses and opened his eyes they widened.

Before him, in front of the girl, stood a large cat made of blue illuminated chakra. It roared at him loudly and hissed. The anger, rage and confidence of the beast sliced through him.

A Jinchuuriki? Here?

And then he heard something more. He looked around him. Cresting over the cliffs and jagged black rock more of them came. More and more. There were seven total. An ox, a badger, a dragon with fire red chakra, what looked like a large turtle, a white dog beast with five elemental tails whipping in his rage and a weasel. Each had their own unique colors and were bursting with chakra. He stepped back. Partly in new found fear and partly in silent joy. They were all here.

All of them.

And now was his chance to get them.

Kei turned to look up at the large demon cat. "Yugito-san, I'm going to my family now. I leave the rest to you." She watched as the large beast of blue turned and seemed to nod to her. With that she was off with a run towards them all. The first thing she did was leap into Sasuke's arms. He held her tightly and she clutched him back as equally so.

"Why did you do something so stupid?" He breathed into her hair.

"To save you and Papa. To save Mama and Sakura-mama." She pulled back and looked up into his coal eyes. "Are you angry at me?"

He sighed and reached down, pulling up her shades to look her in the eyes. "No, I'm not. You just scared the hell out of me."

She nodded. "Where's Papa?"

Sasuke turned. "There."

She gasped. "No!" Scrambling out of her father's arms she ran to Naruto. "Papa!" She cried and she dropped to her knees next to him.

Sakura looked over at her. "He'll be alright... I healed most of the damage... he just needs to sit still for a time." Her voice was not so sure. She wouldn't let Kei see that though. She wouldn't let her daughter see how truly worried her was. How scared.

Naruto cracked a smile. "You brought the Jinchuuriki..."

She nodded. "To save you, Papa. To save everyone. When I found out you were losing I couldn't just stand by and wait."

He sighed and closed his eyes a moment. "I should have known your stubborn nature would have gotten the better of me..." He opened them to look at her again. "I'm proud of you. For following your heart and placing the needs of your village above the needs of yourself."

"Yes, Papa," she whispered softly, still worried about him. A thought struck her. "Why aren't you allowing the Kyuubi to heal you?"

He frowned. "I'm depleted of my own chakra... asking for his help now may mean something more."

Her brows arched. "Is that a bad thing? You told me the Bijuu and you were on even terms now."

"We are," he replied.

She frowned. "Then use him." She pointed to the battle field where the Jinchuuriki were fighting for them. "You are still needed, Papa."

"Kei... you don't understand... "

"Then tell me!" She shouted. She was angry at him. He was in pain and might be at risk of dying if he didn't allow the demon fox to save him. Who knew how badly the internal damage might be. She could sense enough from Sakura to know the woman was almost out of chakra herself. Kei had a feeling she'd done her best for her Papa. She felt a tear starting to fall. "You can't give up. You can't just.. go like this."

"I'm not going anywhere, Kei... I'm right here." He reached out with a wavering arm to try and touch her soft face. Somewhere inside he knew she was right. He was putting on as good of a show as he could... but inside he could feel his body turning on him. He coughed a few times and tensed up as his eyes shut; blood leaked form his lips.

"Papa!" She cried out, tears falling down her cheeks.

"Naruto!" Sakura reached for him, trying to steady him.

Moments later everyone was around him, all looking with concerned and saddened eyes.

Kei ignored them all. She could feel the thick air suffocating her lungs. She could feel everyone around her believing he was not going to survive this. He'd been through so much already. Her Papa was a strong man and he'd done his best for days on end. Weeks. He'd probably had little rest if she knew him right. He was just as stubborn as her when it came to the ones he loved.

"Don't leave me!" She shrieked at him, her small voice making everyone feel the depth of the moment. She gripped his shoulders and shook him slightly. She reached for his head, pulling him to her chest and away from Gaara and she tightened her hold on him. "Quit being so stubborn. Just... stop.." Her tears flowed like a river unending. Her tiny frame shook as he held him. "You're my Papa... you said... you said you'd be there for me. You said you'd be there for me when I had children of my own." She choked on her emotions, on the pent up fear in her chest and throat.

Eyes above watched with heavy hearts and grief as a man far better than themselves began to recede into the next life. Jiraiya closed his eyes as Kakashi placed a hand on his shoulder. Hinata knelt behind her daughter and cried silently herself and she placed a hand on the child's small frame.

Sasuke knelt next to Sakura. "Damnit!" He cried, fighting tears himself. "Isn't there anything you can do?"

She felt her insides falling apart as she tried to fight her own tears. It was to no avail as she turned to her lover. Her voice was a whisper. "I have noting left to give. I gave him all I had left." Her fists clenched at her sides. "If it had been three days ago... yesterday even... maybe." She shook and wrapped arms about her form.

Sasuke could see she was blaming herself and let it be. He looked at Kei as she held Naruto. "Damnit, dropout. Don't you dare die on me yet. You hear me?"

Gaara was one of the few who kept his eyes on the mess of blond in Kei's tight arms. His depths rippled. He couldn't save him. He didn't know what to do. He couldn't cry... he couldn't mourn like the rest of them. What he could do was honor him by doing something about this. All of this.

He stood up and began to maneuver past people.

"Where are you going, Gaara?" Itachi asked through worried torn eyes.

"To join the fight."

ooo

Naruto was drifting... floating ... for what seemed like hours. He stirred slightly and wondered if he really was dead this time. He felt something tap against his head and opened his eyes. Above him was the dark cavernous ceiling he only recognized to be the Kyuubi's dungeon. He tilted his head further back and saw the gold bars that kept the creature under the seal. He began to right him self and stood before the large gates. He felt a hot breath blow across his face and body.

"Naruto..." the creature called from behind the bars. "Son of the honorable warrior who defeated me... " His voice almost sounded surprised. "You've not dared stand before my bars in..."

"Five years," he replied to the creature.

"Hm..." the demon mused, "she's crying..." His tone was soft; as if, he too was upset by the news.

"I know..." he said with an equally soft tone. "I need your help." His eyes watched, unmoving, unafraid, as the creature moved up and out of the darkness.

His silken red fur was drawn back and his body untensed as bright cat-like eyes watched him. The beast was large. His nine tails whipped about him as if waiting for the moment he might have a chance to fight once more. His teeth were not bared. He was not grinning. No, instead he seemed to be looking at Naruto with respect and interest. Like one would look at an old rival or enemy who'd turned a new leaf; who'd gained something beyond hatred and found peace in understanding of one another.

"My help?"

Naruto nodded. "I have to do something. We can't die here. You and I both know that." His fists clenched at his sides. "I didn't want to ask you... I..." His voice wavered.

The fox nodded in understanding. "You don't wish for my chakra to overwhelm you with power. You don't want to lose yourself and die in the process. You fear leaving your family alone and without a father. Like yours left you."

His eyes drew to the fox's. They were pleading. He didn't know what to do. He felt like he was losing everything. And now the other vessels were fighting for him, for his people, for their lives and this world against an enemy who wanted nothing more but to capture them. How could he stand by idly and perish into nothing?

"I made a promise to your father, Naruto."

Naruto blinked at him with wide eyed confusion. "A promise?"

The fox nodded. "When your father sealed me within you it was not the bad but only the good in my being that entered your body. I saw your father as a great man for taking me down that day. I honored his ability to defeat me by making a vow to him." He stood forward, poking his snout through the bars. It was a hairsbreadth away from Naruto. For whatever reason, the blond reached out and touched him. Inside... he smiled as his courage.

"I told him that day I would hate you. I would give you all of myself that I could. I would force you to depend on me." He watched with curious eyes as Naruto's blue pools met his own. "I then told him if you could overcome me... if you could come not to need me and refused the darkness I would force on you... then and only then would I offer you my service in another vow."

"Another vow?" He asked... unsure and questioning.

He nodded again. "Yes." He smiled for the first time since the blue eyed boy had faced him. "I, Kyuubi no Yoko, vow to you, Naruto Namikaze, should you accept, to be your vessel to command. My strike shall be yours, my skill your skill, my fangs your own. When you will me to come so shall I bid. When you order me to stop so shall I cease. My ears, eyes and strength shall be yours." He paused. "In exchange you must release me from the seal to accept these terms and of your own free will. We shall be one with another. My thoughts and actions your own."

Naruto was overwhelmed... He didn't know what to say and he didn't quite understand. "What does it mean? What affects will this have on me?"

The fox's ears twitched slightly as he explained. "Unlike the state I am in now, only being able to speak with you when you allow me to... if you accept my offer and my vow... I will be with you always. You will never shut me out. We will always know one another in mind body and soul." A pause. "Do you accept these terms?"

Naruto was still a little stunned. He would be with him always? Was it a bad thing? He supposed not. At least not when the fox was being so friendly... And he had been for a long time. Respect on either side had been earned. He truly had nothing to fear.

He looked back at the fox, strait in the eyes. "I accept your terms and your vow." He took a moment to think and fox allowed him to. When he spoke again it was strong and revering of the creature before him. "I, Naruto Namikaze, in return for the kindness of your offer and the honor of your vow... pledge to find you a new vessel at the end of my life as long as you keep your vow to me and pass it one to the next vessel."

The Kyuubi's eyes widened in shock. He hadn't expected that. The man before him did not need to make a return promise. It was unnecessary... And he was doing it to be... nice... Naruto must have somehow known if he simply let him free the demon would not be the same.. he would lose his intelligence and fall pray to whatever being wanted his power. No, he was offering to save him... and to allow him to continue his life as long as he wished. His eyes softened.

Naruto... was indeed... every bit the man his father had been before him.

He smiled. "I accept your vow, Naruto. Now all you have to do is pull the seal off."

Naruto nodded and without hesitation he reached for the white marker on the gold bars. With a single tug it was pulled off. As this happened an amber red filled the room and all was washed away from existence...

ooo

When he flashed his eyes open next, it was not a pale cold blue that stared up and into the the face of the child above him. No, it was with red cat like slits he stared upon her crying face. "Kei..." he breathed, feeling a renewed strength and lack of pain in his body. He started to sit up and stared at those around him with tears and grief on their face.

"Papa?" She whispered in disbelief. He was ok... he was really ok! More tears fill her eyes as she gazed down at she stomach to find a steam of red chakra burning any blood left in it's path. She looked back up at his face and smiled. "I thought you were dead..." Her face turned stern and both her and Hinata shouted at the same time.

"Don't scare me like that!"

He winced at the sound. "Oi... quit that."

"Damnit, drop out... I aughtah beat you senseless for putting us through that," he heard Sasuke say to his right.

Sakura was equally upset looking.

He scanned around his friends and saw that a face was missing. "Where is Gaara?"

"He's fighting," Itachi said from behind him.

Naruto looked up to see the ebony haired man looking strait ahead. Naruto stood and followed his gaze. Shock filled his body at the sight before him. All of the Jinchuuriki were still fighting one man. And Gaara had change into Shukaku. He hadn't seen that form since he was a boy. Since the Chuunin exam he was put through. Since the last war with Suna.

"Where are Konan, Hida and Pain?" He didn't see them anywhere in the battle.

"They fled," Itachi replied with a sneer. "We sent some people after them... but they returned, finding no trace of the three or their people."

Naruto nodded and began to force his way through the crowd. It was his turn to stand up for his people. For the ones who were like him and had probably endured the same pains as he had growing up. He didn't know who they were or even their names... but he was going to help.

He felt a tug at his arm and looked down to see Kei. She looked worried.

"Are you ok to fight, Papa?"

He nodded and placed a hand on her head. "I'll be fine." He looked back at his friends and then down at her. "Protect them."

She nodded. "I will." and in a flash he was gone, running from her as she stared at his black, blue tattered cloak flapping behind him. She was still worried about him. But, he was her Papa, he was the Hokage, and like her grandfather before him he was going to save the people he cared for most.

ooo

"Are you ready, boy?"

"Yes."

The fox nodded within him and began.

What Naruto noticed first about himself was his acute sense of hearing, smell, taste and sight... it was like he was seeing the world first hand from a whole new perspective. He then felt his blood boil like it had before when the demon fox took over. He felt red chakra surrounding his form. He watched as his nails elongated into claws and felt as his teeth changed to fangs.

He was use to this and it was nothing new. But, the feeling was new. He could sense the Kyuubi with him, all around him, guiding him and becoming one with him more so than before. He felt something else new... he glanced down and watched his body begin to change. Red fur began to cover him. He felt it mat around his face and his arms. He sensed no pain and his face, his nose and mouth, began to elongate to something akin to a snout.

Then he heard his clothing began to tear and shred and his body rippled and grew. His felt his muscles extend and expand. He leaned down further and dropped into a full run on all fours as everything around him became smaller.

It was then and only then he realized he'd turned into the fox himself.

"Now," the fox said within him, apart of him, "we are as one as we can ever be. You may use my body as you see fit. Do not disgrace my gift, Namikaze."

"I won't," he found his voice growled like a beast in return, the foxes voice. It was new and he wasn't sure how he felt about it still.

The fox only laughed. "You'll grow accustomed to it the more you speak. I will be your extra pair of eyes should anything go wrong."

He nodded and the battle began as he drew in near the the other tailed beasts fight against Madara. When the other creatures caught sight of him they backed away. Not in fear... but something else he wasn't sure of. Naruto narrowed his gaze down on the black haired man. His form was dripping blood and sweat. He was panting and all Naruto could sense in him was hatred. He growled as he leaned down, right in front of his face with his long snout.

"You will die here... Madara."

The man smirked. But instead of saying anything he began to preform seals.

"Naruto! Tell the others to move! Now!"

Without hesitations he was crying out around him and ordering all of the beasts to get a good distance away. He was glad to see them all comply with no questions.

"Now, Naruto, follow my instructions carefully." What he explained was quick and to the point.

Naruto listened as he watched the last few seals being preformed. As this happened Madara blew out of his mouth a large blast of fire. It was normal by any means though. Instead it raged out of control and tried to latch out with great clawed arms into Naruto. It was then he did as the fox requested. At the same moment he opened his mouth, took a deep breath inward and inhaled the raging flames. He only stopped doing so when Madara finished the jutsu.

A moment passed and confusion seemed to sweep the Uchiha's features.

It was in this moment Naruto opened the mouth of the fox and expelled the same blast back at Madara. He turned his head and followed him as he tried to avoid the heat, the hands that were trying to grasp him. The blast eventually stopped, running out of flame. It was during this time the Sharingan user advanced on him, leaping into the air and fully intent of attacking him with more jutsu.

Naruto reached up with a paw and tried to swipe him away. But he avoided it and just kept coming. It wasn't with a normal jutsu that he tried to attack him. No, instead all Naruto saw were the eyes of a Sharingan user. And not any normal ones. These were the eyes of a Mangekyo Sharingan. Fear sliced through him as he realized what he meant to do.

"Naruto, don't fear him. Don't. If you doubt and fear him for a second he'll have us and all of this would have been for naught. He can't control us if we, united, resist him."

He spoke within his mind to the Kyuubi and he lept back and away from Madara and the ebony haired man landed on the ground. "You couldn't do it by yourself. How do you expect me to?"

"Foolish, boy. Listen to me because we don't have much time. We must be united. It's not just me. It you too. Remain strong and confident as I have always known you to be. Resist him as you resisted me all those years."

Naruto growled down at Madara as his gaze held his own. He felt the heat of the Sharingan user as he tried to reach into his subconscious. It was more painful and more horrifying than he ever imagined. He'd never had someone poke around in his mind so... frankly. Or at least try to.

"Be strong, Naruto... your daughter, your family.. your friends are waiting on us."

He felt his breath quicken and Madara tried harder. He pushed further and further as he tried to take over his thoughts... choices... decisions... He couldn't lose here. He wouldn't. No... He felt his body shake slightly. His fur stood up on end and he bore his fangs and the man in front of him. His ears drew back and he roared into his face.

"I will not lose to you..." He raged in two voices this time, not one.

Madara said nothing. He simply smirked and narrowed hie eyes and he impressed his mind on him further.

Images flashed through Naruto's eyes... images of his family... his daughter... the day he lost Sasuke and Sakura but gained Hinata... the day his son was born... the day he achieved the title Hokage... the day Gaara informed him he'd been named Kazekage... all his friend's faces, tears laughter, joys and dreams came to him all at once. It was then he knew he could do this.

He opened his great jaws and ran towards him, snapping them. He felt flesh and cloth graze his teeth as Madara tried to dodge him. He lept back and back. Naruto knew this battle was at it's end. Madara was no longer the threat he had been moments ago. After using such a technique and his eyes he had nothing left.

Nothing.

He swiped at him, hitting true. He watched as the fallen man's body bounced off rock and hard earth before slamming into a large bolder. It was there he stopped moving and Naruto advanced on him, fully intent on finishing what he started.

Just as he was about to clamp his jaws over the Uchiha someone stepped in his way.

His eyes narrowed and he back up a step. "What are you doing, Itachi?"

Itachi wordlessly reached for the sword strapped to his back. "I ask you, Hokage-sama... allow me to finish him."

"Why?" His voice raged. He could not help it. It was the beast within him and without.

His tone seemed to soften as his eyes mirrored the emotion of regret. "Because," he began slowly, "he was my teacher. He helped me commit sins I want to take back." He paused. "I owe you a boon, Naruto. For allowing this man to continue on for so long. Allow me to make up for my sins... and his... by doing this." His voice lowered as he finished his explanation to the great fox before him. "If he is going to die, if should be by my hand. His student."

Naruto stared at him for a long while. But then he backed up a few feet and sat. "Very well."

Itachi thanked with with a bow and turned. He heard sounds behind him and noted people were finally joining them. The other tailed beasts were returning as well. He felt thousands of eyes on him as he spoke to the broken man before him. "I will allow you some final words, if you have any."

Madara chuckled softly as he coughed up blood. "If I have one thing to say... it is this... This world you hide yourselves in is false. The true art of the ninja lies not in your... pitiful ideals and weak messages." He smirked. "You may kill me now... but another will take my place. They always do. The more good you bring to a place... the more easier it is for us to hide in the shadows."

"Is that all?" Itachi asked in a monotone.

He grunted in response.

It was all he needed to hear. In a fell and swift movement his sword was brought down, slicing through flesh and removing his head. He had his eyes closed and heard the roll of flesh and bone across ragged earth. He exhaled slowly and wiped his blade on his pants. Another moment and it was replaced in his sheath.

When he turned around a brilliant shout erupted over the air. It echoed for miles in the long expanse of people as the celebrated the win. Cheers and tears of joy were cried out as people moved, jumped and danced of all things.

As Naruto looked up he saw the skies clearing and smiled. The sun slid through the lining and brightly illuminated the wet valley. He felt a tug on his paw and looked down.

"Papa!" Kei shouted up at him. He chuckled softly and reached down, poking her with his nose. They had won today, he thought as he watched her laugh and climb up his snout when he laid down. They'd won and he was finally at peace. There was nothing more to fear...

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AN: There are several Jinchuuriki who did not have names at all. One of them didn't even have a known village based on my research. In my story they are alive for fictional purposes. But, don't let my fiction confuse you. In the real story Nii Yugito is most definitely dead. Many of the others are too. One of them lost his beast somehow. I read it was the one Tobi and Deidara captured because it lacked intelligence since being separated from it's host. This made it an easy target for the duo.

I've never really known much about Madara... I did some looking into his personality. It says he's quiet for the most part but pretty cocky. I hope I reflected him well in this fic... but alas... I have no idea.

Stay tuned for an epilogue! Readers/Reviews are appreciated!

--Blade